Dad told me about a conversation you had with him over email. He said that you mentioned that you had had a discussion with some other missionaries about some questions regarding the Holy Ghost. It can be hard on the mission to find answers to some questions because your resources are limited to the missionary library. Luckily you have an older brother with virtually unlimited resources and a curious mind. I thought I would join the discussion.
According to dad, you mentioned two questions, "Was the Holy Ghost present on the earth during Christ's lifetime?" and "Is the gift of the Holy Ghost necessary for salvation?"
The Bible Dictionary does a great job of answering the first question. It reads, "For some reason not fully explained in the scriptures, the Holy Ghost did not operate in the fulness among the Jews during the years of Jesus’ mortal sojourn (John 7:39; 16:7). Statements to the effect that the Holy Ghost did not come until after Jesus was resurrected must of necessity refer to that particular dispensation only, for it is abundantly clear that the Holy Ghost was operative in earlier dispensations. Furthermore, it has reference only to the gift of the Holy Ghost not being present, since the power of the Holy Ghost was operative during the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus; otherwise no one would have received a testimony of the truths that these men taught (Matt. 16:16–17; see also 1 Cor. 12:3)."
The misunderstanding of your fellow missionaries was probably rooted in the distinction between the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the power of the Holy Ghost. The question of why the gift of the Holy Ghost was not present during Christ's lifetime is certainly debatable, and like many debatable things in the Church, it's debatable because it really doesn't matter. It's usually best to avoid such speculative debates, especially as a missionary.
The second question is much less debatable. The answer is YES. The gift of the Holy Ghost is absolutely an essential ordinance for salvation. I know you knew that, but if you feel the need to help your missionary friend along, you can very humbly and respectfully and lovingly refer him to Chapters 3 and 12 of Preach My Gospel which contain the statements, "Baptism by water must be followed by baptism of the Spirit or it is incomplete," and "Emphasize that baptism by water is incomplete without confirmation and the gift of the Holy Ghost," respectively.
You could also refer him to John 16:7. Christ says, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." I kind of like the NLV translation of this verse, "But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you." Christ told His disciples that it was better for them that He leave them, so that they could have the gift of the Holy Ghost. What greater manifestation of the importance of the gift of the Holy Ghost could we have?
So perhaps the follow-up question would be: "Why is the gift of the Holy Ghost necessary for salvation?" I asked that very same question before my mission.
It seems a little weird. Other saving ordinances seem to have much more responsibility attached to them. Why do we need to be given something in order to be saved? I did not nearly understand the depth of that question when I asked it the first time. (I say that because the question, and the answer for that matter, is related to a centuries-long and continuing debate among Christian sects concerning the Atonement, which is a conversation for another day). To begin with, it is not entirely that we need to be given the Holy Ghost, but also that we need to receive the Holy Ghost, and that is a very important verb with a lot of responsibility attached to it.
Nephi makes the distinction of responsibility between being given the Holy Ghost and receiving the Holy Ghost abundantly clear. He first explains what we need to do in order to be given the Holy Ghost, "And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost," (2 Nephi 31:12). Pretty simple. Now let's see what Nephi has to say about what we need to do in order to receive the Holy Ghost, "I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost," (2 Nephi 31:13). There's definitely a little more attached to that one. Perhaps a misunderstanding of the distinction between being given the Holy Spirit and receiving the Holy Spirit is at the root of your missionary friend's doubt, as it was for me.
But that doesn't answer our question. Why is the gift of the Holy Ghost required?
We often stress the Holy Ghost's role as the Comforter, His role as a Revelator in communicating personal revelation to us and giving us testimony, and His role as a Protector who warns of danger. These are all very good things, and I am very thankful for them, and they are certainly pertinent to our salvation, but I believe the saving role of the Holy Ghost is His role as a Sanctifier or Purifier. Nephi said in that same, wonderful chapter of 2 Nephi 31, "For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost," (2 Nephi 31:17). Remission of sins comes through the Holy Ghost as we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is a baptism of fire through which we are purified. Without it, we have no hope of reaching the Celestial Kingdom of Heaven, for we know all too well, "no unclean thing can dwell with God," (1 Nephi 10:21).
Before finishing up, I want to clear up one more point which could be another factor beneath your missionary friend's question. The Holy Ghost is often referred to as the third Member of the Godhead. Perhaps we forget that He is the third God of the Godhead. Joseph Smith taught, "I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods," (History of the Church 6:474). God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are of course all essential for salvation.
I'll finish with a verse from the hymn,"Sweet Is the Peace the Gospel Brings" written by Mary Ann Murton Durham:
"May we who know the sacred Name
From every sin depart.
Then will the Spirit's constant flame
Preserve us pure in heart."
I love you, Luke! I hope this helps!
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